Obviously, Konami believes that card based games can work alongside any genre, regardless of how much sense it makes. Metal Gear Ac!d almost seems like a cruel joke to fans of the series, at least from the start. It takes time to adjust, learn, and appreciate just what it is.
You don't need to have experience with card-based games to really grasp the concept. Every thing you do, from walking, to shooting, to sneaking up on guards is done via a card system. It's not very deep from the start, easing players into the game with the first few levels, building on a slow tutorial. You learn everything you need before jumping in to the next section. There comes a point where you'll be joined by an ally who brings with them an entirely new deck to play with. You can tweak all of this until you've found the deck that suits your style or let the computer set it up for you.
The mechanics of it all work out, in the end, better than you would think. Each card of course has an assigned value, a specific power, and a way it should be used. Weapons can be equipped or used and dropped. The greatness of it all comes from the flexibility. You can play this just as you have the other games in the Solid series. If killing everyone in a section is how you handle these games, go for it. If you prefer to sneak around, go ahead. You're obviously graded higher and earn more points (used to buy more cards) if you use stealth, but the game can still be completed as a near suicide mission. It's more flexible than is expected from a card game.
Everything is broken down into smaller sections, perfect for portability and level design. There are times when it seems you need to backtrack too often, so make sure the area behind you is secure at all times. Elevation in the levels also plays a role. If you're on a lower level than an enemy and spotted, they have the opportunity to do more damage. Have your back turned and to be on a lower level is almost certain death. It makes sure you're contemplating every move you make, what direction you're facing, and where you can go next.
This system is far from perfect, a times becoming more infuriating than fun. The randomness of the card draw is expected, but it's hard to plan when you're unsure of what's going to come up next. There are times when you'll be spotted with no way to defend yourself and no way out. That never seems to be fair. It's all very slow paced as well, lethargically moving forward at a clip not suited for a handheld. You can speed up the opponents turn, but not your own. Some of the animation routines seem to take forever.
Article comments
1 - Dew
I love the Metal Gear Series. I have been hesitant to purchase Ac!d for fear it would not hold up onm the PSP. The best choice for PSP right now are Puzzlr games and racing games of which they have plenty of both.